Columbia Police Chief W.H. ‘Skip’ Holbrook announces that a CPD employee has been sworn in as the new President of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Victim Advocates Association (SCLEVA).
Tressa Dixon was given the honor today by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson at the SC Criminal Justice Academy’s Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. According to the SCLEVA website, the group works collaboratively across the state to enhance crime victim services while protecting the fundamental rights and dignity of crime victims.
Dixon, who’s been with the CPD since 2002 is currently the supervisor of the Columbia Police Department’s (CPD) Victim Services Unit which includes victim advocates.
CPD’s victim advocates provide emotional and moral support to victims of crimes immediately following the crime and until a court appearance as a witness. They also advise victims of their legal rights while serving as a liaison between victims, police officers and investigators related to criminal events.
Among numerous accolades, Dixon serves on Governor Henry McMaster’s and Attorney General Wilson’s Advisory Board, the South Carolina Domestic Violence Advisory Committee, and is the training coordinator for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Victim Advocate Association.
In 2017, Dixon was named the Victim Service Provider of the Year.
Dixon currently holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Ashford University